Lignum-Vitae is leading the way back to a simple water lubricated future.

Posted on Thursday, June 22nd, 2017 and is filed under Hydro Power, News

Timing is everything especially when government compliance and environmental needs merge together. Balancing these needs while delivering a reliable energy source can be a challenging and complex task unless you keep it simple.

Introducing “new products” such as plastics and composites can introduce unintended consequences such as instability by requiring a gap between the shafts and bearing to avoid wiping and smearing.

Additionally, new EAL’s offer a “sinking solution” and “biodegradable grease” with the idea of out of sight out of mind. This brings additional challenges requiring years of testing in a variety of conditions to understand if they work, where they work and where they have no place in hydro.

Babbitt bearings rely on seals to keep contaminating oils from spilling from the unit and they bring another level of monitoring, inspections, insurance, and risk.

Fortunately reliable water lubricated technology has a long history that is repeating itself starting with the first revolving hydro shaft in 1882 with main guide bearings made of lignum vitae. It is estimated approximately 20% -40% of all hydro plants are in duress and can benefit from using “zero tolerance main guide bearings” to help control out of round shafts, misalignment and pitted shafts found in aging plants. Keeping it simple saves time, money with the added benefit of complying with every environmental requirement from the EPA for decades into the future.

Demand reliability compromise elsewhere!